Ukraine: Drozdov Still Hoping To Play In Qualifiers

Injured Ukraine captain Artur Drozdov is hoping to return in time for the start of his country's EuroBasket 2007 qualifiers.

The national team are in the middle of their preparations for upcoming matches with Bulgaria, Poland and Sweden.

They have already been through one training camp in Crimea, but Drozdov - who missed EuroBasket 2005 - is currently sidelined with an elbow problem.

"I hope to recover fully during next weeks and to reach optimal condition by the end of preparation," Drozdov told Ukrainian newspaper Sport-Express.

"Right now I practice individually."

New head coach Vitaliy Lebedintsev has named a 24-man squad, but left out a number of players from the last EuroBasket, including former NBA star Stanislav Medvedenko, as well as Andriy Lebediev and the Kryvych brothers, Igor and Rostyslav.

Ukraine have now headed to Estonia where they will continue their preparations with a friendly tournament, involving Hungary, Israel and the host country.